[OFARC] Fwd: STX Newsletter - May 2015

Thu May 28 10:35:38 EDT 2015

Thought the club would b interested but my not b on the section's mailing list

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ARRL Members Only Web site <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
Date: May 28, 2015 9:18 AM
Subject: STX Newsletter - May 2015
To: ke5hdf at sbcglobal.net
Cc: 

> STX Section Newsletter – May 2015 
> CQ CQ, 
>
> This has been a tough week all across Texas. We have experienced 
> unprecedented flooding and tornadic activity at the same time.  There 
> has been untold property damage and sadly, loss of life.  I have heard 
> some details on your involvement and know that the strong tradition of 
> South Texas Amateurs are out helping either via ham radio weather nets, 
> manning EOC’s or maybe assisting through the Red Cross, CERT or other 
> ways. 
>
> I hope all of you came out of this Memorial Day event safe and suffered 
> minimal damage, and if not please let us know any way we can be of help 
> to you.  In either case, I know you are out there giving back to the 
> community and I thank you greatly for those contributions. I know you 
> are giving Amateur Radio a good name.  - Lee 
>
> GOOD NEWS! 
>
> HB 939, the Standby Generator bill as amended, passed the House today 
> 140 to 0.  It had previously passed the Senate 31 to 0.  The bill now 
> goes to the Governor for his signature.  If he signs, the bill becomes 
> law immediately. 
>
> Passing this legislation was a hard hard fight.  John Stratton has done 
> a great job at the Capitol.  He has put in an enormous amount of time 
> and personal money into the project.  I have no idea how many hours 
> were dedicated to the effort.  Be sure to personally thank John for his 
> successful efforts the next time you see him. 
>
> GRASS ROOTS LOBBYING COURSE AT HAMCOM 
>
> Back around 2007 we had several issues we were dealing with in the 
> legislature.  On one hand there were a number of cell phone bills that 
> had language harmful to hams that needed to be killed or reworded.  On 
> the other side we had an aggressive plan to pass a multi-part bill that 
> included Flagpoles, Generators and PRB-1 tower relief. 
>
> The members of this section stepped up when asked and helped to kill 
> off the cell phone bills (actually we succeeded in getting exemption 
> language added to protect us). You all did a fantastic job.  Sadly, we 
> were not so successful on our other bill.  A lesson learned was to step 
> back and tackle them as individual bills instead on one big one and we 
> have since seen the successful passing of the Flag pole bill last 
> session and the generator bill this time. 
>
> The next legislation to be proposed for Texas is the Tower and Antenna 
> Bill.   Passing a Tower and Antenna Bill in Texas is not going to be an 
> easy one.  Without a significant ground swell of support from the 
> membership it will be a hard battle. 
>
> One of the best ways you can help is by becoming a trained and 
> certified member of our Grassroots Lobbying. David has arranged for us 
> to get a formal training class to help us be better prepared.  This 
> class will be held at Hamcom on Saturday June 13th following the ARRL 
> session. 
>
> To be successful in the next session We will desperately need your 
> trained assistance. I would ask you to consider attending this session 
> and becoming part of our boots on the ground team. Preregistration is 
> desired, but not required.  The course is an open course.  Anyone can 
> attend.  For those who chose to preregister, a Course Handbook on 
> Grassroots Lobbying and a personalized Certificate of Completion will 
> be presented to those who do.  Course completion qualifies participants 
> to apply to become a Legislative Action Assistant in the West Gulf 
> Division. 
>
> In order to receive a Course Handbook on Grassroots Lobbying and a 
> personalized Certificate of Completion, you must preregister. Send an 
> E-Mail requesting preregistration to: 
>
> David Woolweaver, K5RAV 
> K5rav at arrl.org 
>
> Include in the E-Mail your request to attend the Grassroots 
> LobbingCourse, your name as you wish it on the Certificate of 
> Completion, your call sign and your mailing address. 
>
> 1.  Request to preregister for Grassroots Course 
> 2.  Name as you wish it on the Certificate of Completion 
> 3.  Call sign 
> 4.  Mailing address 
>
> If you preregister, Director Woolweaver will have your Course Handbook 
> available at the beginning of the session and your Certificate of 
> Completion immediately after the session. 
>
> Deadline for preregistration is June 3, 2015.  Registrations received 
> after that date will not be honored.  No unassigned Course Handbooks 
> will be available at the Forum. 
>
> EC-001 CLASS IN CENTRAL TEXAS 
>
> I have received many requests from members that want to take the ARRL 
> EC-001 course but would like to do it in a live classroom setting.  I 
> am hoping to arrange a number of these across the section BUT We have 
> pinned down dates, times, and a location for an EC-001 class in the 
> Austin area. 
>
> This is a FREE class. The only costs are to sit for the formal exam. 
> If you attend the course you will receive a certificate from South 
> Texas ARES for completion.  If you would like to receive national 
> credit then you will need to sit for the final exam. 
>
> WHERE: The Jester Annex on E. Old Settlers Blvd in Round Rock TX  
> MAP:  https://goo.gl/maps/BiFg 
> WHEN: 6 excitement-filled Mondays from 6pm to 10pm, starting July 20 
> through Aug 24. 
> WHO: Any ham who would like to take it 
>
> I have setup a status page at www.k5ktf.com/ec001/ that also has a link 
> to a form I would like any interested persons to fill out, so I know who 
> and how many will be coming. 
>
> Please pass this along to anyone you know who might be interested but 
> might not be on any of the lists that this went out to.  73 Jim K5KTF 
> Cedar Park TX 
>
> Harris County HCOHSEM 
>
> This story is from last month and is a nice oversight of the Harris 
> County OEM /HCOHSEM and mentions Amateur Radio and quotes from our own 
> Joey Clements. 
> “ 
> We trained more than 300 radio operators in 2014. That is three times 
> the number from the previous year,” said HCOHSEM Logistics Chief Joey 
> Clements. “Texas is second nationwide in the number of licensees, with 
> more than 50,000 amateurs. By utilizing the DHS AUXCOM class, we have 
> trained a cadre of hams in public safety systems.” 
>
> The story is even more relevant considering the past few days that 
> Houston has been experiencing. 
> Link for story is: 
> http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/west_university/news/new-communications-center-vital-element-to-harris-county-emergency-operations/article_f4adc28b-a695-54f7-ba8b-3489480d1556.html 
>
> South Texas Section ASM for Scouting 
>
> I would like to welcome aboard to my team Les Mignerey, KB0MEF.  Les 
> has taken on the challenges of promoting Ham Radio and Scouting in STX. 
> He has formed a team with several others in the Section that have a 
> strong interest in both Scouting and Ham Radio.  I have been following 
> their discussions and it sounds like they have some great ideas. 
> Looking forward to seeing more involvement throughout the Section. 
>
> IF you are part of a team coordinating a Hamfest or event in STX I 
> would like you to consider involving the Scouts in your event, similar 
> to the way Hamcom does every year.  Reach out to Les to discuss. 
>
> Thanks! 
>
> Lee 
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> ARRL South Texas Section 
> Section Manager: Lee H Cooper, W5LHC 
> w5lhc at arrl.org 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
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